The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the 2026 season with a target on their backs. After winning back-to-back World Series titles, the Dodgers are the team to beat and everyone around the league knows it.
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The Dodgers have won their division 12 of the last 13 years, but the San Diego Padres held the lead in the NL West race for brief stretches in August. Despite the Dodgers being crowned NL West champions once again in 2025, the Padres had certainly given them a run for their money.
The organization plans to do so again.
New Padres manager Craig Stammen seems to be carrying the competitive edge from his predecessor Mike Shildt as he put the Dodgers on notice as the 2026 season quickly approaches.
“We’re going to compete,” Stammen said in an appearance on Foul Territory. “No doubt about that. We’re going to give them our best shot. That’s what we’ll do every year, that’s what we’re going to do every year. They’re a great team, two-time defending World Series champions, a lot of great star players, future Hall of Famers.
“We feel good about our roster too. We feel good about our team, we feel good about the attitude. We’ve definitely had a lot of battles with them, we know what it’s like to play in Dodger Stadium, we know what it’s like to play them at Petco [Park] and how exciting that atmosphere is.
“They’re a tough team, they’re a great team, but there’s nothing better in the big leagues than playing against the best.”
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The Dodgers and Padres matchups have emerged as one of baseball’s best rivalries with the 2024 NL Division Series unfolding as quite the thrilling face off between the two teams. San Diego pushed the Dodgers to the brink of elimination, but ultimately LA pulled through.
The Dodgers didn’t face the Padres in the postseason last year as the Friars were knocked out in the Wild Card round by the Chicago Cubs. It looks as though the Padres are already prepared to battle the Dodgers for the NL West crown this season.
As Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis said, to beat the champ you’ve to to knock them out.
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